1. King's Lynn to Downham

From King's Lynn (see post in Norfolk), I walk south and cross the River Nar, a tributary of the Great Ouse; there are good views back to King's Lynn before we pass the side of Palm Paper's giant mill, on the site of what was once King's Lynn's sugar factory.  Following the river, I cross the bridge over the Tail Sluice where the Relief Channel rejoins the Great Ouse; the Tail Sluice works in tandem with the Denver Sluice further down river for water management across parts of the Fenland area.

I reach the first of the four Wiggenhall villages; the Church at Wiggenhall St Germans (the other Wiggenhalls are St Peter, St Mary and St Mary Magdalene. A mile down river are the ruins of the Church of Wiggenhall St Peter and another mile brings me to Wiggenhall St Mary Magdalene, the largest.  The church here is huge and has a weeping chancel, where the nave and chancel are built at a slight dogleg to each other, as well as a rare collection of medieval stained glass and beautifully carved benches.  

The route south heads via Stowbridge takes me past the stone supports for an old rail bridge across the river on the line that ran from Watlington to Wisbech - the line closed in 1969, although the bridge over the Relief Channel is still there.  At times, the Relief Channel is very close to the River Great Ouse;

From Downham Bridge, I head to Downham Market railway station after completing the first leg of this walk.Read more